» Settlers and Palestinians clash in West Bank village; one dead, one injured

Settlers and Palestinians clash in West Bank village; one dead, one injured

Published: Friday, January 28, 2011, 23:00 [IST]

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WEST BANK: Israeli settlers on Friday clashed with Palestinian residents at a village north of the West Bank city of Hebron, causing the death of one Palestinian and injuring another, the Haaretz newspaper reported.

Dozens of settlers from the Bat Ayin settlement went to the village of Khirbet Safa in the early hours of Friday. They confronted the Palestinian villagers and shortly after, settlers began shooting at the local residents.

After the confrontation, tow Palestinians were inured and rushed to a medical center in in Beit Jala near Bethlehem. A 17-year-old teenager died due to the severe wounds sustained. The other was lightly injured.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) arrived about thirty minutes alter and began an investigation to clarify that events that led to the death of the Palestinian teenager. Both sides claimed to be the victims.

Settlers said that Palestinains shot first at a group of hikers nearby and they came to their rescue. Kiryat Arba's council chief Malachi Levinger said that he has been informed about this theory and added that "Jews have the right to travel along their country."

Judea and Samaria police detained 20 individuals for their involvement in the Khirbet Safa clashes. The detainees came from different West Bank areas and are being questioned by investigators.

The incident took place one day after Israeli police confirmed that a 18-year-old Palestinian was indeed killed by an unidentified Israeli settler. On Thursday, Fadi Kaddous was shot dead during clashes with settlers from Yitzhar, a village near Nablus.

In November, an Israeli resident was arrested for allegedly shooting dead a 16-year-old Palestinian boy. The teenager was shot by the Yitzhar resident who worked as a security guard at the settlement's entrance.